Authorities say a 21-year-old man fatally shot two young women before taking his own life after a police pursuit.
LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. — A Kentucky woman who planned to end her relationship with her boyfriend was killed along with a friend who accompanied her for support, and investigators believe the boyfriend then turned the gun on himself after a police chase late Saturday night.
Authorities identified the three people found dead inside a red Chevrolet Cobalt as 18-year-old Jadeance Hale, 19-year-old Lila Asher and 21-year-old James Priddy. Investigators with the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office said preliminary evidence indicates Priddy shot both women before killing himself. The deaths have drawn attention across the region because police were already attempting to locate the vehicle after receiving reports of a possible domestic violence situation involving a woman who reportedly wanted to leave the relationship.
The events began Saturday evening after the three left a home in Barbourville, a city in southeastern Kentucky. Family members became concerned when the group did not return and information emerged suggesting Hale was attempting to end her relationship with Priddy. According to investigators, Hale brought Asher with her for support. Police later learned that Hale had reportedly been trying to separate from Priddy throughout the day. A 911 call from a distraught family member described fears that Hale and Asher were in a vehicle with a man who would not allow them to leave. As law enforcement agencies shared information across county lines, officers began searching for the car. The situation escalated rapidly as authorities worked to locate the vehicle before anyone inside could be harmed.
At approximately 10:45 p.m., the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office said it was contacted by the Barbourville Police Department regarding a red Chevrolet Cobalt connected to a reported domestic violence complaint. Officers located the vehicle and attempted to stop it, but the driver allegedly refused to pull over. Investigators said the pursuit continued until deputies attempted to contain the vehicle. During those efforts, the Chevrolet struck another vehicle and came to a stop. When deputies approached to check on the occupants, they found all three individuals dead inside. Investigators said evidence at the scene indicated Hale and Asher had been shot before Priddy died from what authorities believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Officials have not publicly detailed the exact timing of the shootings or whether either woman had an opportunity to escape before the vehicle was stopped. Those questions remain part of the ongoing investigation.
The deaths have devastated relatives and friends of the two women, who were both described as young people with promising futures. A fundraising campaign established after the killings referred to Hale and Asher as “two vibrant young women whose lives were tragically cut short.” Community members across southeastern Kentucky have expressed shock at the circumstances described by investigators. Domestic violence advocates frequently note that attempts to leave an abusive relationship can be among the most dangerous periods for victims. While authorities have not released extensive details about the history of the relationship between Hale and Priddy, investigators have indicated that Hale’s desire to end the relationship was a key factor in the events leading up to the shooting. Officials have also not disclosed whether there had been previous police calls involving the couple or whether any protective orders had been sought before Saturday’s incident.
The investigation now centers on reconstructing the final hours before the shootings and determining precisely what occurred inside the vehicle. Detectives are expected to review phone records, witness statements and physical evidence recovered from the scene. Authorities may also examine communications exchanged among the individuals involved earlier in the day. Law enforcement officials have not announced any pending criminal charges because the suspected shooter is dead. Instead, investigators are working to complete the case record and provide answers to the victims’ families. Officials have not indicated when final autopsy findings or forensic reports might be released. The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office has stated that the investigation remains active and that additional information could become available as evidence is processed and reviewed.
Residents in the area where the pursuit ended described a heavy law enforcement presence as emergency vehicles converged on the roadway late Saturday night. For many observers, the tragedy was made more painful by reports that Asher had accompanied Hale in an effort to provide support during a difficult personal decision. Friends and family members have shared messages of grief and remembrance, focusing on the lives the two women lived rather than the violence that ended them. Investigators have urged patience as detectives continue gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses. The case has left families mourning two young women whose plans for the future ended in a matter of minutes and has renewed local discussion about the dangers that can arise when relationships break down under volatile circumstances.
The case remains under investigation. Authorities have not announced a timeline for completing their review, but officials say detectives continue to gather evidence and finalize findings about the deaths of Hale, Asher and Priddy.